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Sunset Beach, North Carolina

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Sunset Beach, North Carolina
Seaside town
Seagull over wave in Sunset Beach
Seagull over wave in Sunset Beach
CountryUnited States
StateNorth Carolina
CountyBrunswick
TownshipShallotte Township
Area
 • Total
7.3 sq mi (19.0 km2)
 • Land6.4 sq mi (16.7 km2)
 • Water0.9 sq mi (2.3 km2)
Elevation
10 ft (3 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total
3,572
 • Density554/sq mi (213.9/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
28468
Area code910
FIPS code37-65900[1]
GNIS feature ID1004755[2]
Websitewww.sunsetbeachnc.gov

Sunset Beach is a seaside town in Brunswick County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 3,572 at the 2010 census,[3] up from 1,824 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Myrtle Beach metropolitan area.

History

The seaside town of Sunset Beach had its start in 1955 when the land it occupies was bought by a property developer. Development began in earnest with the completion of a bridge connecting the beach island to the mainland in 1958.[4] Sunset Beach was incorporated as a town in 1963.[5]

Geography

Sunset Beach is located in southwestern Brunswick County at 33°53′7″N 78°30′27″W / 33.88528°N 78.50750°W / 33.88528; -78.50750 (33.885348, -78.507528).[6] It is the last developed Atlantic Ocean beach before the South Carolina border. One-third of the town's area occupies a barrier island between the ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway; the remainder of the town extends onto the mainland to the north. Undeveloped Bird Island is directly to the west, Calabash is the closest town to the west on the mainland, and Ocean Isle Beach is to the east.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town of Sunset Beach has a total area of 7.3 square miles (19.0 km2). 6.4 square miles (16.7 km2) of it is land, and 0.89 square miles (2.3 km2) of it (12.22%) is water.[3]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1970108—
1980304181.5%
19903112.3%
20001,824486.5%
20103,57295.8%
2015 (est.)3,801[7]6.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 1,824 people, 909 households, and 678 families residing in the town. The population density was 360.9 people per square mile (139.5/km²). There were 2,983 housing units at an average density of 590.3 per square mile (228.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.37% White, 0.49% African American, 0.38% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 0.27% from other races, and 1.10% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.37% of the population.

There were 909 households out of which 7.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.0% were married couples living together, 3.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.4% were non-families. 21.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.01 and the average family size was 2.28.

In the town the population was spread out with 6.9% under the age of 18, 2.7% from 18 to 24, 12.1% from 25 to 44, 43.6% from 45 to 64, and 34.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 60 years. For every 100 females there were 97.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $47,356, and the median income for a family was $57,019. Males had a median income of $40,795 versus $27,708 for females. The per capita income for the town was $36,181. About 3.0% of families and 4.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.5% of those under age 18 and 3.2% of those age 65 or over.

Sunset Beach Bridge

Sunset beach bridge
Sunset beach bridge 2006 with cars

Since most of Sunset Beach and the adjoining Bird Island coastal reserve encompass a barrier island, the only way to get there from the mainland was by crossing a pontoon bridge (swing bridge) straddling the Intracoastal Waterway and adjacent marshland. It was a wooden structure that could only hold one lane of traffic at any given time, and was the only one of its kind still in use along the East Coast until 2010. During the day in the summer, traffic would be stopped every hour, on the hour, and the bridge would open to boat traffic on the waterway for 10 minutes. At 10 minutes after the hour, every hour, the bridge would reopen for vehicular traffic again for 50 minutes. During the off-season, the bridge only opened at the request of boat traffic. While this caused headaches for those trying to get on or off the island, many locals said the bridge did, however, give the town a more relaxed feel. Historically, this had been in stark contrast to the rapid growth affecting other beach communities along the Grand Strand.

In February 2008 the NCDOT started construction to replace the old bridge with a modern, 65-foot-high (20 m) arc bridge (non-draw, non-swing). The bridge opened November 11, 2010. The old Sunset Beach pontoon swing bridge was saved by the Old Bridge Preservation Society which plans to create a museum celebrating the old bridge and the town's history.[9] The new bridge eliminates the need for a bridge keeper and provides for a continual flow of vehicle traffic on and off the island, and water traffic on the Intracoastal Waterway.[10]

Housing in Sunset Beach

The town consists of both mainland neighborhoods and a barrier island of approximately 1,200 homes. Three of the larger mainland neighborhoods in the town are golf course developments at Oyster Bay, Sea Trail Resort and Sandpiper Bay. Ocean Ridge Plantation, while not in the town limits, has one of its "sister communities" in Sunset Beach's ETJ. Ocean Ridge has an amenities center/clubhouse on the island, while Sea Trail Home Owners Association has a designated parking lot for members. The island is primarily home to vacation rental homes and cottages, although there are close to 100 full-time residents as well.

Sunset Beach Beach Houses at Dusk
A beach house at Sunset Beach, NC named "SandTrap"

References

  1. ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  2. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  3. ^ a b "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Sunset Beach town, North Carolina". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Retrieved February 12, 2014.
  4. ^ "The History of Sunset Beach". Sunset Beach, North Carolina. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
  5. ^ "Sunset Beach". Star-News. May 24, 1998. p. 28. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
  6. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  7. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  8. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  9. ^ "NCDOT Opens Sunset Beach Bridge". NCDOT. 2010-11-12. Retrieved 2010-11-12.
  10. ^ http://www.sunsetbeachnc.gov/vertical/Sites/{F34277FF-C30A-451F-9BE1-D84A8D87A7B2}/uploads/{C7670507-D331-4ED4-A641-2505B37F52A6}.DOC
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